Yu Tang listened, her heart pounding like a drum, and said, “What are you trying to say?”
Wei Xiaochuan said, “They’re sheltering refugees—can we report them for this?”
The court had regulations prohibiting the arbitrary sheltering of refugees.
Because these refugees had no household registration and no land, in order to survive, they could easily take desperate risks and do things that harmed others. Usually when encountering such situations, either the magistrate’s office would intervene to repatriate them to their original place of registration, or they would be registered locally and rewarded with wasteland to settle and farm.
If what Wei Xiaochuan said was true, the Li Family sheltering refugees like this was somewhat problematic.
In her previous life, she seemed to have heard that the Li Family had such an estate, but at the time she hadn’t paid attention. Moreover, the reason she had any impression of this estate was because later the Li Family felt those refugees were all difficult to manage and wanted to drive them out of the estate. Some people were unwilling to leave and caused trouble—people died. The Li Family reported it to the authorities, and later the magistrate’s office intervened to calm the matter down.
Lin Shi had been in a bad mood for several days because of this and even threw a tantrum at home, saying that one can’t be too benevolent when dealing with people—the Li Family’s good deed had turned into a bad thing, and they would never shelter these refugees again.
At that time, she had also felt those refugees didn’t know gratitude… But looking at it now, the situation probably wasn’t what she had understood in her previous life.
Perhaps Wei Xiaochuan had stumbled upon something by accident and unintentionally discovered an important clue.
Yu Tang said, “After coming back from your house, I thought for a long time and wondered—if the Li Family did something bad, where did they find the people to do it? After all, it’s a human life. If we get evidence and report it to the authorities, their family would also have to face legal consequences. To avoid future troubles, either their own trusted steward did it, or they hired people from outside. As for the Li Family’s stewards, I’ve already investigated—they’re all fine and in the city. None of them were absent that evening. As for hiring from outside, those who dare do such things must be local ruffians. I’ve also asked around—the well-known ruffians in Lin’an City have all been in the city these days. None of them fled…”
Wei Xiaochuan’s eyes lit up as he listened, and he said, “So the murderer who killed my second brother might very well be refugees from that estate?”
Yu Tang softly made an affirming sound.
Wei Xiaochuan hurriedly said, “Then I’ll ask for leave and go check out that estate tomorrow.”
“No!” Yu Tang said. “If you’re suspected, with your small frame, you won’t even be able to run away. We absolutely cannot act rashly right now.”
“All right!” Wei Xiaochuan said dejectedly. “My cousin told me that the people on that estate all dress well and eat well but don’t really work the fields. There must be something fishy about this. You be careful too—don’t let anyone discover you and kill you to silence you. Didn’t you say we can’t act rashly?”
The Li Family hired thugs to abduct her and ruin her reputation—what difference was there from killing to silence someone?
Yu Tang said, “You don’t need to worry. I won’t go myself. I’ll ask someone to help.”
Wei Xiaochuan thought this over and felt it was workable. He said, “Then I’ll be going. It’s the first day at the county school—the teachers will take roll call. I can’t be late. If you have any news, remember to have someone send me a message.”
Yu Tang couldn’t keep him there and hurriedly said, “Take my sedan chair over. I’ll pay for it.”
Wei Xiaochuan refused, saying, “I’ll take the shortcut—it’s very fast. Don’t worry about me. Too bad the people from our family’s estate didn’t see clearly what those two strangers looked like, otherwise I could bring people to identify them.”
Yu Tang breathed a sigh of relief and said, “It’s actually good that the people from your estate didn’t see clearly what those two people looked like. If you went directly to identify them like this, even if you recognized the people, they would have ways to deny it. This matter can’t be handled so simply and directly—we need to use strategy. You should hurry to school. I’ll handle this matter properly.”
Wei Xiaochuan had just wanted to complain a bit. Hearing this, he walked away with his head down.
Yu Tang spent the entire night at home thinking about this matter. By the time it was almost dawn, she had finally made up her mind and went to find Yu Wen.
Yu Wen was organizing with Chen Shi all the items they had inventoried at home, preparing to send them to Yu Bo’s house to first give Yu Yuan’s wedding a proper and impressive celebration.
Yu Tang chatted casually with her parents for a few sentences, then gave her father a meaningful look.
Yu Wen understood. He said to Chen Shi, “I remember that the year before last, a friend came from Meizhou and brought us a bolt of Shu brocade. Why don’t you find that too and send it to Elder Brother’s place?”
The fabric was too stiff—uncomfortable to wear as clothing—but very beautiful for trimming. Chen Shi had originally planned to keep it for Yu Tang. Hearing Yu Wen say this, she couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment. She thought that although the Shu brocade was rare, it wasn’t impossible to buy—just more expensive. Fortunately, trimming didn’t require that much. If it went to Yu Yuan, then so be it. She made an affirming sound and went to the storehouse.
Yu Wen found something for Chen Shi to do, and only then did he relax and go with Yu Tang to the study.
Yu Tang still didn’t know that the bolt of Shu brocade that originally belonged to her was now gone just like that.
She said to Yu Wen, “When I came back yesterday, I ran into Fifth Young Master from the Wei family. He told me that when he went to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts to his maternal grandfather, he discovered that an estate not far from his maternal grandfather’s estate belongs to the Li Family and has sheltered many refugees…”
“There’s actually such a thing!” Yu Wen was shocked and said angrily, “If those refugees rioted, people would die in Lin’an City. Doesn’t the Li Family know this? No, I must tell Magistrate Tang about this.”
Yu Tang held her father back and said, “Father, you can’t just go find Magistrate Tang like this.”
Yu Wen didn’t understand.
Yu Tang said, “Think about it—the Li Family can also be considered an official family. Other families might not know the dangers of refugees, but how could their family not know? They could hire thugs to abduct me, so they could send those refugees to cause trouble at our house. My suggestion is that you might as well discuss with Magistrate Tang first and have him investigate in the name of the magistrate’s office. Just say someone reported that the estate is sheltering people who collude with foreign pirates. If the Li Family is just doing a good deed by sheltering those people, then that’s fine. But if something’s not right, Magistrate Tang will naturally know how to handle it.”
Yu Wen thought it over and felt this plan was better than going directly to find Magistrate Tang himself.
You see, if someone in his jurisdiction was sheltering refugees and he didn’t know about it, it would be fine if nothing happened, but if something did happen, his three years of political achievements would be finished. Even if he wasn’t dismissed from office, it would affect his promotion. Moreover, the Yu family and Li Family were already like fire and water. So what if the Li Family knew he had reported them? Even if he didn’t report the Li Family, would the Li Family let the Yu family off?
Yu Wen said, “I know what to say. You go keep your mother company! The weather is getting colder and colder. I heard Imperial Physician Yang will come in a few days to check on the health of the Pei family’s eldest lady. I want to invite him over to examine your mother. You watch over your mother and don’t let her catch cold—if she catches cold, we’ll have to wait until the illness is cured before starting tonic medicine, and Imperial Physician Yang might not be able to wait until then.”
Ever since taking Yang Douxing’s medicine, Chen Shi had hardly been ill. Yu Wen’s confidence in Yang Douxing’s medical skills had greatly increased. He felt that as long as they could keep inviting Yang Douxing to see her, Chen Shi’s health would continue to be fine.
Yu Tang repeatedly agreed.
Yu Wen went to the magistrate’s office.
Yu Tang kept Chen Shi company and organized all the things to be sent to Eldest Uncle’s house. When Yu Wen returned, they went together to Eldest Uncle’s house.
On the way, Yu Tang asked her father, “What did Magistrate Tang say?”
Yu Wen said, “Magistrate Tang thought our family wanted to retaliate against the Li Family. Although he agreed to investigate, I could see he wasn’t very enthusiastic. I had a sudden inspiration—when I was leaving, I said I was going to the Pei family to invite Imperial Physician Yang to help with medical treatment, and he immediately became different.” Speaking to this point, he sighed and said, “We owe the Pei family another favor. I don’t know when we’ll be able to repay it all.”
The main issue was having no way to repay it.
Yu Tang couldn’t think of what Pei Yan still lacked.
Especially since Pei Yan had always felt she had ulterior motives, that everything she did had hidden purposes, and he looked down on her very much.
Thinking of these things, Yu Tang sighed somewhat dejectedly.
Forget it. She could only repay the Pei family’s great kindness in her next life.
If she could even have a next life?
In just a few exchanges, they had already arrived at Yu Bo’s house, and this matter was dropped.
Yu Tang had A’Tiao give A’Liu, who sold water pears at Little Plum Creek, some broken silver and had him keep watch on the Li Family.
Within a few days, people in Lin’an City were spreading word that the Li Family, out of kindness, had sheltered many refugees. As a result, Magistrate Tang found out and sent people to check whether those refugees had committed any crimes. Who knew those refugees would feel guilty—when the magistrate’s office people went in to verify, they got into a conflict with those refugees, and two bailiffs died.
The Li Family was greatly alarmed and very much regretted having kindly sheltered these people in a moment of compassion. The Li Family’s eldest son personally stepped forward to handle this matter. Not only did he pacify the estate households in the surrounding area, he also took out silver to give the two bailiffs proper burials and provided large sums in compensation.
Yu Tang sneered coldly.
She didn’t believe her tactic of luring the snake out of its hole would come to nothing.
It was just that if those two people appeared, how could she get her hands on them?
Yu Tang pondered over who she should ask for help.
If only she could have a few more brothers!
While she was lamenting this, Magistrate Tang suddenly came to visit Yu Wen.
Yu Tang had Shuang Tao eavesdrop on a few sentences while serving tea to Magistrate Tang.
Shuang Tao came to tell her, “Magistrate Tang came to apologize to our master. He said that last time, the Li Family’s eldest son personally came to ask him about it, and he couldn’t keep it hidden, so he told the eldest son of the Li Family what happened. Fortunately, the eldest son of the Li Family is reasonable and said he was very sorry to our master. He also said that once things settle down, he’ll personally come to apologize, and asked that when our master goes to the Pei family, he shouldn’t mention this matter.” After finishing, she opened her big eyes and curiously asked Yu Tang, “Miss, what happened? Why would Magistrate Tang personally come to apologize to our master?”
“Don’t worry about master’s business.” Yu Tang perfunctorily sent Shuang Tao away, but in her heart she very much despised Magistrate Tang.
He wasn’t here to apologize to her father at all—clearly he came to tell her father that the Li Family knew the person who reported them was her father. He was only tipping off her father out of consideration for the Pei family. He was also telling her father that Li Duan had already intervened in this matter—if the Yu and Li families had any conflicts, it had nothing to do with him.
No wonder Magistrate Tang had been the magistrate of Lin’an for a full nine years before being transferred. With this appearance of smoothing things over, pleasing both sides, and not daring to take responsibility—it would be a miracle if he could become a high official!
Yu Wen had long been prepared to tear all pretense with the Li Family and naturally wouldn’t care about Magistrate Tang’s implications. He warmly entertained Magistrate Tang, talking with him about poetry and literature, making plans to climb heights and admire chrysanthemums during the Double Ninth Festival, not mentioning the conflict with the Li Family by a single word.
Magistrate Tang had only made this trip out of consideration for the Pei family anyway. If the Pei family continued to protect the Yu family, the Li Family couldn’t do anything even if they knew. If the Pei family didn’t intervene and the Yu family was like an egg striking a rock, at most he would sigh once.
As long as he extricated himself, that was enough. As for the rest, he didn’t want to offend anyone and had no ability to manage it.